Cork SAHC final replay: Bride Rovers 2-15 Castlelyons 2-14
Bride Rovers secured the Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship title in a dramatic replay, overcoming neighbours Castlelyons by a single point, 2-15 to 2-14. The victory, which sends the Rathcormac and Bartlemy club to the Premier Senior ranks, was a testament to the steadfastness and resilience of a remarkably young side, many of whom are still U21.
The final was defined by a stunning late surge, where Bride Rovers hit Castlelyons for an unanswered 1-4 in the final ten minutes. With 53 minutes played, it seemed all was lost as Castlelyons led by a commanding six points, 2-14 to 1-11, after goals from David Morrison and Leon Doocey had canceled out Adam Walsh’s earlier strike.
However, Bride Rovers refused to yield. Defender Jamie Peters began the comeback, and the deficit was cut to the minimum when Paddy O’Flynn’s half-point/half-delivery bounced fortuitously into the net with two minutes left. Sweeper and man-of-the-match Cillian Tobin then leveled the scores with a superb long-range effort from his own 45-meter line in injury time. The winner arrived shortly after, delivered by David Barry, who scored the opening and closing points of the replay.
Rovers’ boss Brian Murphy praised his team’s “never-say-die attitude” and phenomenal commitment over recent years, believing the young group has their best years still ahead of them as they step up to the top flight.
A Walsh 1-7 (0-6 f), P O’Flynn 1-1, D Barry 0-2, J Peters, C Tobin, S O’Connor, B Roche, C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
L Doocey 1-1, D Morrison 1-0, A Fenton 0-3 (0-2 f), E Maye, A Spillane, K O’Leary 0-2 each, C Spillane, N O’Leary, S Moroney, J Kearney 0-1 each.
C Hogan; D Cashman, E Roche, C Tobin; J Ahern, C Hazelwood, S O’Connor; J Peters, C O’Sullivan; P O’Flynn, B Roche, A Walsh; K Kearney, C Ryan, D Barry.
R O’Connell for Kearney (40), J Mannix for O’Sullivan (54).
J Barry; D Spillane, C Barry, C Spillane; S Moroney, N O’Leary, C McCarthy; J Kearney, E Maye; S Cotter, A Fenton, L Doocey; K O’Leary, A Spillane, D Morrison.
B Spillane for Morrison (56).
M Maher (St Finbarr’s).
